Friday, September 25, 2009

Sweet Sadness

Saying Goodbye To My Sister Dawson

Some goodbyes are both sad and sweet. My sister, Dawson, is leaving Second Life today. Her intent is to rarely return, if ever. And so, a vast void looms large in my second life that was once filled with adventure and discovery, sailing and helicopter thrills, laughter and sound advise, and so much sisterly affection and love. This is the sadness. That impending loneliness that would be unbearable but for the sweet.

For Dawson, this is a day for which she worked long and hard. Daw was born in China but was raised and lives in Holland. She is separated from her partner, residing in China, the love of her life. But in just a few hours, Daw's partner will arrive in Holland as a new immigrant, and they will begin their life together, never to be separated again. Dawson's life will be filled leaving little room for Second Life, she says. The sweet is my joy at my sister's impending happiness. And I find that the sweet has blended with the sadness to produce a melancholy that is warm and unexpectedly comforting.

A Portrait of My Sisters and Me

We said our goodbyes at Jaysun's new house. My sister Victoria was also there. And, as Jay noted, it was a rare gathering of all three of us. There were hugs all around. But was it a final gathering? I harbor a hope. Dawson is a creative force, and that creativity had an outlet for expression in Second Life. That creativity and the love of people here for her may someday pull her back, if only for abreviated visits. And the picture above may not be the final group portrait of my sisters in Second Live.

Mariko Nightfire: A Virtual Life

Welcome to Mariko Nightfire: A Virtual Life. Mariko Nightfire is the name of my Second Life self. Mariko is also my name in real life. I’m a Japanese-American girl from Hawaii and a graduate student at a university in the northeast. As an extention of me, so is Mariko Nightfire. But, she is far more than an extention. She is the Mariko in Wonderland. This blog records her adventures in wonderland and my thoughts on Second Life's culture and development. Her's is truly a fully realized life being lived in that alternative universe of pixels. In addition to Miss Nightfire's personal diary, my blog has an number of special features:
.Mariko Magic: These are my fashion posts. I love the world of fashion in Second Life. There are some wonderful talents creating exceptional fashion in Second Life. This feature highlights them and their most magical creations. These posts also appear on my fashion blog : Mariko Magic - Fashion in Second Life.
.Cheesecake Mariko: Mariko is cute and sexy - a pinup girl. This feature has Mariko at her cutest and sexiest.
.Photo Mariko: I fill my postings with colorful pictures of the people, places, and events that are the subject of the post. But I have taken some pictures that do not make it into my regular posts and are interesting enough to share with you. I'll place those pictures in this feature.